Exerciser



A. J. BRUENE May 5, 1953 EXERCISER Filed April 1, 1949 INVENTOR: 2. (Emu/m 3gum Patented May 5, 1953 UNITED S TAT E RATE NT OFF! C E EXERCISERJ Ailred L-Bruene, Cliica'gosllle Application April l, 1949, Serial No. 84,830

(U1. 128MB) 1 Claim; 1 This. invention relates in generalto an exerciser,. and is' more particularly concerned With a portable exerciser that is designed to exercise the legs and. trunk of the person using it and is particularly characterized in employing principles of operation. whereinthe generalformv of a turntable is arrangedfor reciprocable action in a horizontal plane, the top surface or Whichis substantially fiat and arranged to receive the feet of a standing person.- V

The subject device is a continuation in part of a mechanical exerciser disclosed in my copending application; Serial Number 720,121. entitled Exerciser, now abandoned.

The contemplated exerciser is arranged so that a person standing upon the platform is guided and assisted in effecting swinging movement of the body in ahula-hula fashion with the result of awakening lazy muscles about the legs, feet and waist as'the turntable reciprocates in an arcuate motion; It has been proven and noted medical authorities agree: that such-exercise oi the waist of a persorrs body vitalizes muscles seldom used and hence is conducive to relieving strain, fatigue and facilitating improvement of body lines. bviously,. an exerciser as contemplated herein and employingv the principles of operation of the subject device effectively conditions the abdominal muscles,-v stimulates the blood stream and normalizes the body functions in general.

The present improvement in exercisers is directed to simplify their construction and their mode of operation so that the simple arcuate movement of the platform is effectively" controlled to provide and translate proper movement to the user's body, thereby to accomplish more advantageously the desired proper exer-' cise of the legs and lower portions of the torso of the user. Moreover, the present device seeks to employ conventional partswherever necessary and possible, thereby to efiect reduction in the cost over the prevailing types of exercisers presently employed Accordingly, an object and accomplishmentof' the invention are to provide an exerciser, the construction and operation of which are particularly characterized as employing principles which will prolong the life and termof the operation of such exercisers.

It is a particular object and accomplishment of the invention to provide an exerciser which will furnish proper and controlled exercise for a major portion of the body in an-extremely simpie and emcient'manner.

Another object ofthe' invention is to provide an improved exerciserby co' rel'ating and especially designing the various elements thereof, whereby there shall be such cooperation between said improved elements as will best serve the purpose ofpr'oviding" an efiicientexerciser facilitating simple arcuate movements. and capable of being manufactured at low cost and yet giving the maximum of satisfactory service in use.

A further object and accomplishment of the" invention is to 'provi'de'an improved exerciser designedf for advantageous employment as a-portable exerciser of relatively" small dimension and which Shall have a I'IOVGI SJIIdCOITiIJ'QICt arrangement'of parts wherein said parts. can be readily assembled and serviced.-

A more detailed object of the} invention is to provide an exerciser particularly characterized by" its arrangement and design of parts to effect a controlled simpie'oscillating movement to the platform upon which the feet of a user is disposed", said controlledosciuating movement being accomplished by motor means mechanically operatively associated with the platform, whereby the cooperative efforts of the motor means to accomplish the oscillatinginovement-of the platform and the swinging of the body of the user will effect a motion particularly advantageous and conduciveto exercise the waistv of av persons body and vitali-ze abdominal muscles which are seldom used, stimulate the blood stream and effectively normalize the body functions in general.-

The invention seeks. as a further object and accomplishment, to provide anexerciser as contemplated herein and. characterized by an arrangeinent of parts to more advantageously and satisfactorily perform the function required of it and adapted to provide a compact unit which willv successfully combine the; factors of structural simplicity ancldurability, and yet be economical' to manufacture. Y

Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention disclosed hereinwill be apparent fully described, and, as particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

With the above and other incidental objects in view, the invention has other marked improvements and superiorities which radically distinguish it from presently known structures, these improvements in the invention residing in the novel construction and cooperative function of the parts thereof, the combination of the parts and the arrangement thereof as illustrated in the drawing and which Will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing on which there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exerciser embodying the features of this invention and showing the position of a person while using the device;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the exerciser depicted in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the exerciser depicted in Fig. 2 and illustrating the relative disposition of the parts of this invention; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom elevational view of the exerciser depicted in Figs. 2 and 3 and being taken substantially on the plane of the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

The drawing is to be understood as being more or less of a schematic character for the purpose of illustrating and disclosing a typical or preferred form of the improvements contemplated herein and in the drawing like reference characters identify the same parts in the several views.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention depicted in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and a, the exerciser is designated in its entirety by the numeral 2!! and comprises, in general, a base designated in its entirety by the numeral 25 and formed to define a substantially circular shape and arranged to be placed on the floor, a platform designated in its entirety by the numeral 22 and being mechanically operatively associated with and carried by said base, power transmission means designated in its entirety by the numeral 23 and comprising a motor 23, a transmission 25 carried by the base 2i, and a belt drive means 25 operatively associated with the transmission 25 and portions of the base 2i and having means for connecting and transmitting power to said platform to effect controlled oscillatory movement thereof, said platform 22 having a normal position of rest and being arranged to rotate in an arc in a horizontal plane on a vertical axis between extreme positions at each side of the normal position of rest, said arrangement being particularly characterized in its mode of operation by the cooperative efforts of the power transmission means 23 and the operator to impart oscillatory movement to the platform 22.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it can be seen that the base 2| is preferably formed from a suitable metal by, for example, casting or any other convenient means and the base is provided with radially disposed spokes 30 formed so that they may join integrally with the perimeter 3i of the base 2| and a centrally disposed hub 32. i

It is notable that the hub 32 of the base 2i is preferably cast over a hollow preformed bearing member 33 having an axially disposed internal cylindrical sleeve bearing surface 34 and an outwardly projecting annular flange 35 at the upper end thereof. It has been found to be particularly advantageous to form the bearing member 33 of bronze. Moreover, the bearing surface 34 may be provided with grooves as indicated at 31 for the purpose of properly retaining and distributing a suitable lubricant.

The platform 22 is arranged to be limited in its rotary movement so as to provide an oscillatory action resulting from the cooperative efforts of the power transmission means 23 and the operator to impart oscillatory movement to the platform in a simple arcuate motion. Moreover, the platform 22 may also be formed, for example, by casting by any convenient conventional practice and, preferably, is cast on a pre formed mating bearing member 4?) which is pro vided with an outer cylindrical sleeve bearing surface 4i and an outwardly projecting annular flange l2 arranged to engage the corresponding parts of the hub bearing 33.

Particular attention is invited to the fact that by casting the base member 2! and the platform member 22 on their respective preformed bearing members 33 and M5, it is unnecessary to machine or otherwise finish these bearing members, and, the under face of the outwardly projecting annular flange 42 is arranged to ride upon the up ward face of the outwardly projecting flange 35, thereby providing complementary horizontal and vertical bearing surfaces for rotatably supporting the platform 22 on the base 2i so that the platform may rotate in an arc in a substantially horizontal plane on a vertical axis between extreme positions at each side of a normal position of rest.

In referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it can be seen that the under side of the platform 22 is provided with an annular dependin flange t5 which is arranged to operate within the outwardly extending annular wall 46 of the base 2! and is connected with the central portions thereof by means of the depending radially disposed stiffening ribs 41 of which there are eight equi-distantly and uniformly disposed about the central axis of the platform 22. The inner ends of these stiffening ribs 4? are connected integrally with the centrally cast pivot post it illustrated as being disposed internally of the bearing 48.

In order to retain the relative operative positions of the bearing members 33 and it there is provided an annular groove 49 disposed on the bearing surface t! adjacent the lower end thereof and arranged to receive a suitable lock ring 50 having portions thereof engageable with lower portions of the bearing 33, thereby to prevent upward movement of the bearing ti] and the platform 22.

The base is provided with a bottom 52 secured to the underside of the base by means of screws 53 adapted to be received into threaded apertures (not shown) disposed on bosses 55 forming a part of the spokes 30.

Adverting to Figs. 3 and 4, it can be seen that the ower transmission means 23 comprises the electric motor 2 1 having a suitable housing 55 arranged to be secured to the base 2! by means of suitable bolts 55. It is advantageous to employ a combination motor-transmission assembly whereby both units may be disposed in a single housing and effect a more pleasing design. a

In the motor-transmission assembly as illustrated there is provided an output shaft '5! arranged to receive a pulley 58 adaptable to carry a belt 59 which is arranged to ride upon and transmit power to a pulley 60 carried for rotative movement by a pivot pin 6! carried by a spoke of the base 2|.

Fixedl secured to upper portions of the hub of the pulley 60 and arranged to rotate therewith is a crank arm 63 having one end thereof projecting slightly radially outwardly of the periphanta ct c:

Thus it 26 compris can be seen that the drive means 5 the pulleys 5t and 6t, and the impart 1 setting movement to the crank arm 5?; which movement will causethe linkage 66 to follow and effect an oscillatory movement of the platform said platform having anormal position of rest" and being" arranged as hereinbe'fo'r'e described to rotate in an arcin a horizontal plane on a vertical. axis between extreme posi tions at each side of the normal position of rest.

In" order to preloa'd the platform and to provide proper balance to the system under certain conditions there is provided suitable spring means it having one end it thereof connected to a lug ll forming an integral part of a stiffening rib ll of the platform 22. The other end of the spring 75 is connected to a lug '39 forming an integral part of a spoke 353 of the base 2!.

Under some conditions such as, for example, when the exerciser is to be employed by a child whose weight naturally is entirely different from that of a heavy set grownup, it may be desirable to provide additional spring means (not shown) similar to that as shown at it but applied to and connected with a lug 8b, forming an integral part of another stiffening rib t? of the platform 22, and a lug 8i forming an integral part of another spoke 3b of the base 23.

Thus it can be seen that the exerciser may be preloaded and properly balanced by merely making a proper selection as to the spring size or by adding or subtracting the number of springs as needed.

It has been found advantageous for the purpose intended to employ a belt drive as hereinbefore disclosed; however, it is obvious that the belt drive may be replaced by a chain drive or by the employment of suitable gears. The belt drive is preferable because of its silent operation and because the resiliency of the belt provides a smoother harmonic motion. Other advantages of the belt drive will be described in detail in the operation of the device.

In order to provide a source of electric power to the motor there are provided suitable electric conduits such as, for example, the wires 85 having a suitable electric plug (not shown) disposed at one end thereof and arranged to be received into a conventional electric wall socket. Adverting to Fig. 1, it can be seen that the operator has a switch $6 in one of her hands so that she may control the starting and stopping of the device, this switch being interconnected with the motor 26 by means of the electric wires 8l.

Although there is illustrated a switch and wire arrangement to be held in the hand of the user, other forms of switches may be employed such as, for example, a switch may be inserted on the upper face of the platform 22 so that when the user steps upon the platform she may step upon the switch to cause the machine to operate and when she desires the machine to be stopped her foot can be removed from the switch.

Thecpera'tiomof the deviceii's: as follows: Re feri ing to'Figi 1,. it can b'eseen that the fanciful figure of a user of the exercises 20' is disposed upon the platform 22.- When the proper position is assumed the switch 86 is'turned on and by virtue ofthe power transmission mechanism 23 the platform will begin to oscillate a simple arcuate' motion: to guide the user in controlled movements; It is important to understand that the operator cooperates with the oscillating movement of the platform 22 by swinging the body" a-l iula-hula fashion in a magnitude as desired, In this connectionit is notable that thepo'wes trar'fnissio means 23 is so balanced that the user ma oppose, to a degree, tile" OS scribed. Thus by varying the technique a complete rangeof controlledexerciseof the muscles is provided.

It is notable that the exercise and the movements resulting from the subject device is distinguishable from other types of exercising devices such as, for example, the hobby horse or the vibrating type or the type which oscillates in a vertical plane. Moreover, the result of the exercise given by the contemplated device is the awakening of lazy muscles of the legs, feet and waist as the platform 22 moves in an arcuate motion. It has been proven and noted medical authorities agree that such exercise of the waist of the persons body vitalizes muscles seldom used and hence is conducive to relieving strain, fatigue and facilitating improvement of body lines. Furthermore, the subject device effectively conditions the abdominal muscles, stimulates the blood stream and normalizes the body functions in general.

From the foregoing disclosure, it may be observed that I have provided an improved exerciser which efficiently fulfills the objects thereof as hereinbefore set forth and which provides numerous advantages which may be summarized as follows:

1. structurally simple, efficient and durable;

2. Economical to manufacture and readily adaptable to mass production manufacturing principles; and

3. The provision of an exerciser effecting a movement of the body particularly advantageous and conducive to exercising the waist of a persons body and vitalize abdominal muscles which are seldom used and relieving strain, fatigue and facilitating improvement of body lines.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but wish to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

An exercising device wherein the user employs muscular inertia to oppose mechanical motive means and comprising: a base; a platform to support the user of the exercising device said platform being mounted on said base for rotation in a horizontal plane on a fixed axis in an are between extreme positions of oscillatory movement; a motor driven speed reduction power transmission means secured to said base to transmit power to said platform to effect controlled oscillatory movement of the platform, said power transmission means including a drive shaft, a first pulley mounted on said shaft, a second pulley carried by said base, and a belt arranged to ride on said pulleys to facilitate rotation of said second pulley responsive to operation of said motor driven speed reduction means, a crank arm fixedly secured to said second pulley for rotation therewith and having one end thereof projecting radially outwardly of the periphery of said second pulley, and a connecting link one end of which is pivotally connected to the projecting end of said crank arm and the other end of which is pivotally connected to said platform; and spring means attached between the base and the platform and being ineffective during arcuate movement of the platform midway of the extreme positions of oscillatory but becoming effective during the arcuate movement of the platform in the zone at each side of the midway position to the extreme positions of oscillatory movement to offer a variable force to oppose relative movement between the base and platform, the change of direction of movement of the platform at the extreme positions of oscillatory movement being opposed by muscular inertia exerted by the user, and said variable force of said spring means cooperating with the power and action of said motor driven speed reduction power transmission means being eifective to overcome the muscular inertia exerted by the user.

ALFRED J. BRUENE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 841,606 Winans Jan. 15, 1907 1,731,011 Krawitz Oct. 8, 1929 1,970,233 Hertzberg Aug. 14, 1934 2,234,770 Meyer Mar. 11, 1941 2,256,001 Titus Sept. 16, 1941 2,351,293 Saunders June 13, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 19,500 Switzerland May 6, 1899 

